1990: September 8-14

3 September 2010

Cover: Mat Stevenson, Emily Symons (Home And Away)

Mike Munro: ‘I go home and cry’60 Minutes reporter Mike Munro says that for the past five months, working on the story surrounding the ‘Mr Bubbles’ case involving 17 pre-school children, has often reduced him to tears. “I get so bloody depressed. I go home to my wife and cry. If people want me to say that I’m on a crusade, then good. If being a crusader means not giving up until the truth comes out then I’m proud to be called a crusader,” he told TV Week.

‘They’ve been beauties!’During 25 years of TV, including his years as a foreign correspondent for ABC, a reporter for 60 Minutes and now as host of Midday, Ray Martin has interviewed more than his fair share of superstars. Pop princess Kylie Minogue wins the award for the easiest to talk to, while Joan Collins was a different story. “Joan was difficult, until she settled in,” Martin told TV Week. “(She) preened herself and looked at herself and was in love with the monitor. More than anyone else, apart from Bob Hawke. Bob Hawke just about matches her!” Whoopi Goldberg is described as “the most natural… terrific” and Jane Fonda was “interesting. She was interested in any subject and didn’t want to do all serious issues.” Nicole Kidman, Elle McPherson and Sigrid Thornton are also among his favourites, while Sophia Loren is one of the most beautiful women he has ever seen.

‘You have no idea some of the things that were invented!’This year has been a busy one for actor Marcus Graham – moving on from soapie E Street to starring roles in mini-series Shadows Of The Heart and Ratbag Hero, a guest role in ABC’s GP and an upcoming appearance in The Flying Doctors. But a possible lowlight this year has been media speculation of a relationship with actress Nicole Kidman. Graham (pictured) had been dating Kidman briefly before she went to the US and met Tom Cruise. On a recent trip back to Sydney, Kidman had called at his house but he was not home, but it was enough to prompt speculation of a romance. “You have no idea some of the things that were invented!” he told TV Week.

Briefly… Former A Country Practice star Anne Tenney (pictured) returns to TV this week in an episode of ABC series Fresh Start, playing the part of a sheepfarmer’s wife struggling with illiteracy. It is only her second TV appearance since leaving A Country Practice in 1985, having recently appeared in the children’s series Elly And Jools.

Actress Linda Hartley has spoken to TV Week after her sudden departure from Neighbours where her character, Kerry Mangel, was accidentally shot dead while at a duck-hunting protest. “Joe (Mark Little) and Kerry couldn’t have split up – that just wouldn’t have happened. If you’re going to go, you might as well go with a bang! Kerry has been a wonderful character to play and I won a Penguin Award for her, so I’ve had a very rewarding time,” she told TV Week.

Former Neighbours star Guy Pearce is set to make a big impact on the big screen. The 22-year-old actor is currently on location in Fiji for the film Young Flynn, portraying screen legend Errol Flynn from a 16-year-old schoolboy to when he made his first Hollywood feature at the age of 24. Pearce also has a key role in upcoming film Heaven Tonight, co-starring John Waters, Kim Gyngell and Rebecca Gilling, due for release later this year.

John Laws says…”There are some annoying little traits on television. One of them is the oft-spoken line, “Thank you for your time,” which Jana Wendt uses on every interview she conducts. Others have taken up the courtesy – some to an irritating extent. But perhaps the most irritating trait of all is the one that they all use – every night, without fail – on news and current affairs programs. It’s the two words “but first”. Once you’ve noticed these words it becomes hypnotically riveting to wait for them to be spoken each night. Example: “Later we’ll talk to Idi Amin about how he would handle the Gulf War crisis, but first…”

Program Highlights (September 8-14): Saturday: ATV10 wipes out its usual overnight schedule of B-grade re-runs and movies and from tonight replaces that with Ten Newswatch, a direct telecast of news coverage from US network CNN with emphasis on the escalating situation in the Middle East. GTV9 crosses live to Flushing Meadow, New York, for the Men’s Semi-Final and Women’s Singles Final of the US Open tennis.

Sunday: The Sunday night movie is Innerspace (GTV9), while HSV7 presents the first part of mini-series Poor Little Rich Girl and ATV10 debuts mini-series Blood Ties. GTV9 then crosses to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix.

Monday: GTV9 presents early morning coverage of the Men’s Singles Final of the US Open, live from Flushing Meadow, New York. In A Country Practice (HSV7), on the eve of her wedding Lucy Tyler (Georgie Parker) is told by her mother Lois (Jill Perryman) that she is divorcing her father who is refusing to attend the wedding.

Tuesday: In Beyond 2000 (HSV7), reporter Simon Reeve finds out why Volvo is leading the way with the production of environmentally safe vehicles. David McCubbin and Gia Carides are guest stars in this week’s episode of GP (ABC).

Thursday:Maggie Tabberer and Richard Zachariah present ABC’s new lifestyle series, The Home Show, a weekly series focusing on how to get the best out of where you live. In E Street (ATV10), a boxing match between Harley (Malcolm Kennard) and Max (Bruce Samazan) is staged to see who wins the affection of Toni (Toni Pearen) who appears rather dubious about the whole situation.